DIGing around
February has been a wonderful month here at SEEDS Durham. We are so happy to see our calendar filling back up with volunteer groups and our community volunteer days reaching capacity again. After a long stretch of cold and snowy weather, we are especially grateful for the brighter, longer days on the horizon. There is something about the promise of spring that brings fresh energy, not just to the garden, but to all of us who care for it.
This year, SEEDS has big plans for the garden. We are dreaming boldly and working intentionally to grow programs, strengthen partnerships, and create even more opportunities for our community to gather, learn, and thrive together. Through the many events, workshops, and volunteer days we have planned, we remain committed to keeping SEEDS a safe, welcoming space for everyone who cares about community as much as we do.
Exciting things are happening not only in the garden beds, but within the SEEDS team as well! As mentioned in last month’s newsletter, SEEDS is currently hiring a part-time Garden Coordinator. We have received many amazing applications, and our team is carefully reviewing each one. It is inspiring to see how many people are eager to be part of this work. We are a tight-knit team that truly cares for and supports one another, and we are looking forward to welcoming a new member into the SEEDS family.
In just a few short months, our space will become even more lively as we welcome back our DIG (Durham Inner-city Gardeners) interns for the summer. Keep an eye on our website and Instagram for announcements about when DIG applications will open, we cannot wait to begin this next season with a new group of teens.
The DIG internship is one of the most meaningful parts of our work at SEEDS Durham. Each summer, local teens commit to learning, growing, and contributing in powerful ways. While DIG is rooted in gardening, it is about so much more than planting and harvesting. Our interns gain hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture, food justice, teamwork, and leadership. They build confidence, responsibility, communication skills, and resilience; life skills that extend far beyond the garden gates.
We know that the world is not always easy, fair, or predictable. DIG challenges teens in ways that help prepare them for those realities. It may not be the easiest summer job, but it is one that encourages young people to step outside their comfort zones, discover their strengths, and grow in ways traditional summer jobs often cannot offer. Every moment in the garden becomes a lesson, about patience, accountability, collaboration, and care.
At SEEDS, we nurture our interns the same way we nurture our plants: with patience, consistency, encouragement, and love. And just like our crops, these teens thrive over the course of the summer. It is always bittersweet to see them leave in the fall, but we are so proud of the hard work and dedication they show while they are here. Our hope is that they carry the knowledge, confidence, and sense of belonging they gain at SEEDS with them into school, work, and the wider world.
As we look ahead to warmer days and a full growing season, we are filled with gratitude, for our volunteers, our supporters, our teens, and our entire SEEDS community. Big things are growing here, and we are so excited to share them with you.